[1357] Sall. Jug. 39 “senatus ita, uti par fuerat, decernit suo atque populi injussu nullum potuisse foedus fieri.”
[1358] Polyb. vi. 14 ὑπὲρ εἰρήνης οὗτος (ὁ δῆμος) βουλεύεται καὶ πολέμου. καὶ μὴν περὶ συμμαχίας καὶ διαλύσεως καὶ συνθηκῶν οὑτός ἐστιν ὁ βεβαιῶν ἕκαστα τούτων καὶ κύρια ποιῶν ἢ τοὐναντίον.
[1359] The Gaditani approach the Senate for the renovation of a treaty made with a pro-magistrate in 78 B.C. Cicero questions its validity (pro Balbo 15, 34) on the ground that the people was not consulted. The passage illustrates both the Senate’s exercise of this power and the continuance of a controversy as to its right.
[1360] Hence the institution of the Graecostasis. Varro (L.L. v. 165) describes it as “sub dextra hujus (the Rostra) a comitio locus substructus ubi nationum subsisterent legati, qui ad senatum essent missi; is Graecostasis appellatus a parte ut multa.”
[1361] So the Numantian envoys in 36 B.C. are received ἔξω τοῦ τείχους (Dio fr. 79). As a rule the appeal was made to the nearest imperator, and his representations might accord such legati a reception within the city. See Momms. Staatsr. iii. 2 p. 1150.
[1362] Liv. Ep. xlvi. “in commune lex lata est ne cui regi Romam venire liceret.” Cf. Polyb. xxx. 17.
[1363] Cic. ad Q. fr. ii. 13, 3 “Appius interpretatur ... quod Gabinia sanctum sit, etiam cogi ex Kal. Febr. usque ad Kal. Mart. legatis senatum quotidie dare.”
[1364] Polyb. xxii. 24; Liv. xlv. 17.
[1365] For the attempt made by the lex Sempronia to obviate this power see p. 201.
[1366] Cic. ad Fam. v. 2, 3 (to Metellus Celer, proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul, 62 B.C.) “Nihil dico de sortitione vestra: tantum te suspicari volo nihil in ea re per collegam meum me insciente esse factum.” Cf. ad Att. i. 16, 8.